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ABSTRACTWe generally accept that the planned arrival of a first child is a source of joy for the new parents and that it provides them with a sense of accomplishment. Traditionally, society welcomes the formation of a family unit and looks forward to this passage into the new role of parenthood. However, not only has research on marital relations set aside the popular imagery of romanticism, but it has increasingly given negative connotations to this crisis-prone transition phase. The objective of this article is therefore to review literature concerning the impact of a newborn child on the marital experience, and to nuance the idea that childbirth can lead to crisis situations within the couple. In conclusion, the authors argue that the concept of marital satisfaction needs to be reformulated. Judging from their brief overview of literature, the authors believe the concept to be too narrowly defined and slightly ambiguous. Indeed, researchers have not yet reached a consensus on the definition of marital satisfaction. Furthermore, they tend to operationalize the concept in very different ways. As a result, there is a lot of conclusion and the fact that many researchers use different terms as a synonym of satisfaction is no help. What's more, the assessment of quality in a relationship should not be limited to measuring the level of satisfaction of the two partners. Other dimensions (e.g. adjustment, commitment, cohesion, etc.) deserve consideration in order to give a more complete image of the changes that occur over the years within the couple.

AbstractThis article reviews four separate conceptions of obsessional compulsive disorder (OCD). The first is a movement disorder, the second is part of a wider OCD spectrum including impulsive and compulsive disorders, the third is currently classified in the DSM-IV-TR, as an anxiety disorder, and the fourth and final view that OCD is a belief disorder and forms a continuum with other belief disorders such as delusional ideation. Although there is support for the four viewpoints, and OCD is distinct from movement, anxiety and impulsive disorders, it seems reasonable to conceptualize OCD as a belief disorder which creates anxiety as a consequence of the obsessional belief.

AbstractThis article presents a case study on the use of acting with six people suffering from severe and long-lasting psychotic state. The study aims at elaborating the hypothesis on the use of this activity in readaptation. The effect of expression therapy on the development of social skills has rarely been substantiated by empirical studies. The literature review points out a poor generalization of social skills following social skills training ; it also allows a description of the acting and its therapeutic potential. A qualitative methodology is applied to an investigation conducted in a psychiatric day center and uses the description of behavior before and after the program. The results indicate resemblances between the therapeutically acquired social skills and the social behavior from everyday life. The use of acting in therapy would contribute at the generalization of social skills.

AbstractClassical approaches of treatment of people with schizophrenia recognize that successful treatment of this illness requires more than simply reducing the frequency, intensity and duration of positive symptoms such as hallucinations. In fact, a more comprehensive approach aimed at reducing disability is indicated in most cases (Silverstein et al., 2000). It has recently been proposed that new approaches to the cognitive rehabilitation of schizophrenia need to recognize the importance of 1) systematically addressing motivation, self-esteem, and affective factors when designing cognition enhancing interventions ; 2) the need to move beyond one-size-fits-all interventions and develop individual-specific treatments ; and 3) the need to address abnormalities in the experience of the self when designing interventions to optimize cognitive and behavioural performance. The case study presented here is an example of a cognitive rehabilitation approach of schizophrenia that attempts to promote the self integration process by means of a range of specific interventions and addresses three issues noted above. Preliminary results suggest that it could be very beneficial for patients suffering of schizophrenia.

AbstractThe author describes the stages of elaboration of Transference Focused Psychotherapy (TFP) : choice of theoretical model, observation and analyses of several sessions of psychotherapy led by experienced therapists, team discussions on problems encountered that rise both from the pathology itself and from the therapeutic approach applied, a quest of empirical data to explain as much the personality disorder as its neurological and psychological roots, etc. The author reviews the efforts made to arrive at the description in writing of a manual on TFP, a manual that meets the criteria of a treatment method. Finally, the author summarizes studies conducted to measure the psychotherapeutic efficacy of the method and the possibilities of generalizability.

ABSTRACTExisting hypotheses regarding psychological mediation of disorders in initiating and maintaining sleep only partially explain the phenomenon of insomnia, particularly in aging individuals. In this article we review existing nonpharmacological treatments of insomnia and propose a new way of conceptualizing and treating disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep. The model, based on cognitive and information processing factors, is then used to propose novel approaches to intervention. Because of the prevalence of sleep disruptions in older adults and the limitations of existing pharmacological and psychological treatments with this population, the assumptions of the model and the proposed intervention are explored with particular reference to aging individuals.

The Mulhouse Fonderie district has the particularity of being a “Priority Neighbourhood” (QPV) hosting a faculty. However, it is not exempt from the rule of the compartmentalization of the various populations that frequent the space. The implementation of educational supports and French as a language of integration (FLI) courses within this faculty has changed representations, among local residents, students and university staff. This heuristic study proposes an understanding of the mechanisms and issues related to territoriality, borders and social mixing through socio-educational actions in the Foundry district.

Keywords: Territoire, mixité sociale, frontière, éducation, Territory, social mixing, borders, education, Territorio, mestizaje social, frontera, educación

The multiple definitions of a social problem depend on various theoretical perspectives, schools of thought, social historical and political contexts, groups of interest and presence of diverse actors, etc. To the extent that a problem is recognized as a social one, it is after it passed through various stages: number of citizens touched by the problem, social ties proximity or distance to the social mainstream in relation to the problem, institutionalization process, modalities of social reactions, etc. We will attempt to demonstrate certain links between social conditions and gambling abuse as a potential social problem. In a second phase, a psychosocial perspective will illustrate the addiction phenomenon and the central importance of distinguishing between use and abuse in the addiction cycle construction. Finally, a conclusion will focus on future perspective and questioning the gambling phenomenon as a social problem.

Keywords: Problème social, dépendance, jeux de hasard et d'argent, individualisme, contrôle social, Social problem, addiction, gambling, hyper individualism, social control

AbstractThis paper is an introduction to a treatment for adolescents with identity diffusion that has been modified from a therapy that has been found to be effective in the treatment of adults with significant identity diffusion, namely, Transference Focused Psychotherapy. The central role of differentiating normal Identity Crisis from Identity Diffusion in adolescents, essential to accurately identifying those adolescents appropriate for this treatment, is articulated. The primary modifications of TFP for adolescent treatment described involve changes in frequency and duration of some of the specific techniques (e.g. increased clarification ; more work in the extra-transferential relationships before directly addressing the transference), tactics (e.g. inclusion of family during the assessment phase and treatment contract setting phases of treatment ; inclusion of supportive interventions in the environment while maintaining the analytic stance in sessions), and strategies (e.g. the goal of removing blockages to the development of normal identity integration, not "forced maturation"). This treatment aims to improve adolescent's relationships with friends, parents, and teachers ; help clarify life goals ; acquire positive self-esteem ; and be better prepared for entering love relation ships.

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to verify a model of relationships between psychosocial factors and health for 8066 francophone nurses working in geriatric care in Québec. A random sample of 1990 subjects was drawn and a participation rate of 77,9% and 55% was obtained for the two-time study taken twelve months apart. Based on the theory of Maddi and Kobasa (1984), the model was reproduced for the two-time periods with the aid of structural equations. The analyses showed that three variables exert a direct influence on psychological distress: professional burnout, occupational stressors and hardiness. Also, variables have a direct effect on burnout: listed in order of importance, these are hardiness, occupational stressors, work support, active strategies of coping and employment status. In dealing with the work stressors, the nurses who are hardy make use of active strategies of coping and look for support form their colleagues. The results of the study help to better understand the psychological and social resources thta best favor adaptation of working women in highly demanding work environements. The fallout of the study converges towards the quality of life of helping professionals and towards the cost and quality of health and social services.